Rivers Fixes Date For Local Govt Elections

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission on Monday fixed October 5 for the conduct of local government elections.

This was made known by the electoral commission on Monday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, after meeting with the leaders of political parties and major stakeholders in the state.

It was gathered that part of the highlights of the meeting includes the unveiling of the timetable and guidelines for the upcoming local government elections in the state.

The announcement marks the beginning of preparations for the elections after Governor Sim Fubara dissolved the former councils after their tenure expired.

Fubara also inaugurated caretaker committees to run the affairs of the local government areas while the ousted chairmen were still laying claims to their seats following the six-month tenure elongation granted them by the Martins Amaewhule-led lawmakers.

To avert bloody clashes, the police had since taken over all the 23 secretariats of local government areas in the state pending the forthcoming judgement of the Court of Appeal.

A policeman and member of a local vigilante outfit were shot dead during a protest in Eberi-Omuma in Omuma LGA of the state, with the police saying the decision to barricade the councils was to forestall further bloodbath.